wilkinson



(No Model.) 7 A. W. WILKINSON.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING GAS.

No. 556,910. Patented Mar. 24, 1896 UNTTED STATES ASA V. YVILKINSON,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF NEYV YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,910, dated March24, 1896. Application filed January 10, 1896. erial No. 574,950. (NoSpecimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ASA W. WILKINSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, in the county and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in the Process ofManufacturing Illuminating ater-Gas; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to a new and improved process of manufacturingilluminating water'gas from hard or anthracite coal and carbide ofcalcium by the aid of steam.

The object of my invention is to provide for manufacturing illuminatingwater-gas containing a large percentage of olefiant gas directly in acupola gas-generator.

In carrying out my invention I use a cupola gas-generator such as isused in the manufacture of water-gas, a suitable form of which isillustrated in the accompanying drawing, which represents a cupola invertical sect-ion and suitable connecting-pipes in elevation.

The cupola A is preferably constructed with an iron jacket and a liningof fire-brick, and has an inclined bottom a, a grate a,a11dasl1- doorof, and is constructed at the top with a fuel-opening g and a gas-escapeopening g. A suitable mouthpiece, having a lid G connecting to a pivotedlever f, is secured to the top of the cupola at the opening 9. A chamberD and blast-port (Z are formed in the brickwork at the base, said portleading into the ash-pit below the grate. An air-pipe 0, lead ing fromvthe air-blast box B, connects with the chamber D. An air-blast pipe Badmits air from a blower (not shown) to box B. Pipe 0 is provided at itslower end with a conical valve 0, which may be controlled in anysuitable manner. A gas take-oft pipe E leads from chamber D into thehydraulic main I, where its lower end is provided withaconical valve 2'.A gas take-off pipe F connects with the top of the cupola at passage gand extends down into the main I.

The main steam-supply S connects by the branchnz with. the gas takeoffpipe F for conducting steam into the top of the cupola. The branch pipeit connects with the superheatiug and discharge pipe 0' in the brickworkjust above the grate, and the branch pipe 0 connects with the gastakeoff pipe E. These pipes are provided with valves for controlling theflow of steam into the base or top of the cupola. The pipe P leads fromthe hydraulic main for conducting gas to a holder or other place of use.

The apparatus is operated at follows A fire is kindled on the grate inthe usual manner and the cupola is filled to the desired height with amixture of hard coal and from one to ten per cent. of carbide ofcalcium, the percentage depending upon the candle-power of gas required.An air-blast is admitted until the body of coal is heated toincandescence, when the air-blast is shut off and the lid G at the topof the cupola is tightly closed and gas take-off pipe F is opened. Steamis now admitted into the base of the cupola and is decomposed as itpasses up through the in candescent coal, producing carbonic oxide andhydrogen, and at the same time another portion of the steam united withthe carbide of calcium, liberating acetylene. This acetylene gas asliberated under favorable conditions will unite with the nascenthydrogen, forming olefiant gas. The decomposition of steam and formationof olefiant gas are continued for about ten minutes, or until thetemperature of the coal is reduced too low for effectively decomposingsteam, when the steam is shut off and the air-blast is again admittedfor heating the coal to incandes cence. By the addition of coal andcarbide of calcium from time to time the process may be conducted aslong as desired. I

The result of the operation is the production of a mixture of gaseswhich possesses great illuminating power and burns with greatbrilliancy. W'ith care in the manufacture little or no purification ofthe gas is required, just simply cooling, when it is ready for storagein the holder.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

1. The within-described process of making illuminating-gas from thedecomposition of steam by red hot coal and the liberation of acetyleneby steam from the carbide of calcium in a cupola.

2. The process of manufacturing illumt netting Water-gas which consistsin heating a body of coal and carbide of calcium to incandescence by anair-blast, then shutting off the air and passing steam, in contactWith'the incandescent coal and carbide of calcium, thereby liberatingacetylene and nascent hydrogen to form olefiant gas.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ASA W. WILKINSON.

Witnesses WILLIAM C. EARLE, CHARLES PLATNER.

